Polish libraries face steep funding cuts for book acquisitions

Poland plans to allocate 10 million PLN (2.4–2.6 million USD) to purchase new books for public libraries in 2026 as announced by Tomasz Makowski, chair of the National Library Council and director of the National Library of Poland.

In previous years, approximately 30 million PLN were allocated annually under the National Reading Development Program (Narodowy Program Rozwoju Czytelnictwa) for the purchase of new books. In 2025, 2,052 libraries received support with a total of nearly 33 million PLN. The funds were allocated not only for books but also for access to digital and audio formatted material.

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According to Makowski, If state budget revenues rise, the amount could be adjusted upward.

In Poland, the Reading Development Program has been running since 2016. Its earlier phase, NPRCz 2.0 (2021–2025), had a total budget of 635 million PLN, with 60% funded by the state and 40% contributed by program participants. The details of the 2026–2030 program have not yet been announced, even though its preparation was originally expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

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Main image: Sikora Wnętrza / www.sikorawnetrza.pl

Copyediting: Ben Angel